C. S. Lewis: A Shiver of Wonder

Derick Bingham has produced an inspirational portrayal of the "man on the inside" of C.S. Lewis. This is a very well researched journey through the experiences that shaped the life of C.S. Lewis and developed his intellect and integrity.A combination forged in the wisdom of a sovereign God which so effectively sought to reach his fellow man. A facinating record too of the challenges, both personal and national, that "Jack" Lewis faced. Encounters that thrust him out of the security and privacy of his imagination, to confront that other world of the barren plains, sunless valleys and dark forests of mankinds hearts and minds, blinded and held captive by the great deceiver. Using wit, imagination and intelligence, C.S. Lewis reflected light from the Light of the World into very dark times. A Shiver of Wonder is an excellent biography which serves as an invaluable introduction into the works of this giant of Christian literature. I am confident that those who read it will find themselves on the threshold of adventure, determined to discover the wonderful works of C.S. "Jack" Lewis. by J. Alan Haskins

Derick Bingham's biography of Lewis is not a dry scholarly work. It looks for the everyday human being that was C. S. Lewis, living in a very real place that helped create the writer we love, and it finds him again and again. This book is a delightful read. Bingham knows his subject, man and place, and he gives us a flesh-and-blood account of it. I highly recommend the book.

Bingham's style is captivating. He makes this biography of CS Lewis into a delightful trip through time, including breaks along the road to enjoy the scenery. His deep insights concerning Lewis' life give this book a real depth, and yet I found it was really fun reading too. Bingham's knowledge of the subject, and of related topics, results in a masterful tapestry. I just wanted to keep on reading, even at the final chapter.

I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone as the author has meticulously researched the life and works of Lewis. I was encaptured into the atmosphere from the very first page. CS Lewis was known to me as the author of 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' but after reading this book I feel the need to read further works by Lewis. 'The Shiver of Wonder' is so delicately interwoven into each page and the book shines with the author's love for his subject and his deeper love for the Saviour of mankind today. Read this book and you will feel 'The Shiver of Wonder' and not want the story to end. If you have not read any of Lewis's books you will want to after reading this and if like me you have read his children's books you will definitely want to read his other books. I feel D. Bingham has reached a wider audience with his accurate depiction of Lewis's real life. I so enjoyed his love of nature and the encounters with many other authors we all know today. The book is deeply moving and will leave the reader with a deeper understanding of the reasons behind Lewis's writings. I feel privileged to give this book 5 very well deserved stars and just want to share the joy with others no matter where you read this book. I live in Northern Ireland so many of the places 'live' to me. By reading the book you will also enjoy all the 'little' snatches of life in Belfast as this is where CS Lewis was born. I look forward to reading more CS Lewis books but will also look forward to more by D.Bingham who has a wonderful gift of writing.

FInally, I think it has a nice design - cover very snazzy. -shep